After careful research by the Executive Yuan, the solution formulated is to occupy Zhejiang Province, and firstly prevent Japan. Even if there is no full-scale war, it will inevitably affect the strategic policy of the East China Government. Occupy Zhejiang Province is to compensate the East China Government. After all, it is an expanded territory, and it can be considered a loss and a muddle of gain. Secondly, after the East China Government occupied Zhejiang Province, it directly bordered Fujian Province, which is enough to capture Japan. After all, Japan still has a deep sense of taboos towards the East China Government, otherwise it would not only force the rent of Wenzhou Prefecture and Taizhou Prefecture this time. Therefore, after the two sides bordered, Japan's actions would also be restrained. Of course, if Japan still did not know how to advance and retreat, the East China Government could also attack from Zhejiang Province to teach Japan a lesson.

The last and most important thing is that the occupation of Zhejiang Province by the East China Government is also sending a signal to other countries. If Japan's crazy behavior is not stopped, the East China Government may change its strategic policy of first north and then south, and then south, which will naturally be detrimental to Britain, France, the United States and other countries, because the South is their last interest in China. Although all countries know that the ultimate goal of the East China Government is to unify the country, adopting the strategic policy of first north and then south, then south, will still have about 5 years to operate southern China. If other unexpected things happen, it can be maintained for a longer time. Therefore, to avoid the East China Government taking the South first, it must take more powerful measures to put pressure on Japan and force Japan to give up its invasion.

To occupy Zhejiang Province, it is best to adopt a peaceful approach. Zhejiang Governor Zhou Fu was a staff member of Li Hongzhang. He had had some contacts with the East China Government before, which was quite incest. Moreover, among the officials of the Qing court, Zhou Fu was a capable, knowledgeable and pragmatic official. He should be a target that can be won over. After all, it would be best to be able to collect Zhejiang without using any weapons.

At the same time, there is another candidate most suitable for persuading Zhou Fu to surrender, Li Jingfang, the son of Li Hongzhang. After Li Hongzhang passed away, the Qing court commended Li Hongzhang and appointed Li Jingfang as the Left Minister of Rites and the position of learning and walking in the Prime Minister's Office. However, Li Jingfang did not go to the scene, but settled in Shanghai. With the industry left to him by Li Hongzhang, he could also live a very superior life. He usually had contact with Sheng Xuanhuai, Zhang Jian, Zhao Weizhong and others, and sometimes he also received invitations from the Shanghai Municipal Government to participate in some activities.

Because of Li Hongzhang's relationship, it is naturally the most appropriate to let Li Jingfang persuade Zhou Fu to surrender to the East China Government. So he immediately asked Li Songchen to find Li Jingfang and asked him to go to Zhejiang Province to persuade Zhou Fu.

Li Songchen asked Li Jingfang to explain to him the request of the East China Government. Li Jingfang agreed immediately without thinking. It turned out that Li Jingfang was quite fame and fame, and in his prime, he was naturally unwilling to be a wealthy idle person and ended his life. But he also knew that he had a close connection with the old dynasty, and it was not easy to find a position in the new dynasty, and he needed to wait for a suitable opportunity. Now the East China Government asked him to come forward to persuade Zhou Fu, and Li Jingfang also realized that the opportunity had come. If he could persuade Zhou Fu to surrender to the East China Government, he would naturally make a contribution to the East China Government. Then it would be natural to find an official position in the East China Government. Moreover, Li Jingfang believed that it was not difficult to convince Zhou Fu. Bi Jing was facing a dead end now, and there was almost no other way to go except to surrender to the East China Government.

So Li Jingfang immediately left Shanghai and came to Hangzhou to meet Zhou Fu. Although he knew that Li Jingfang was probably here to be a lobbyist for the East China Government, he had this relationship with Li Hongzhang, and Zhou Fu and Li Jingfang had known each other for many years, and Zhou Fu also wanted to know what the East China Government had to say, so he ordered someone to invite Li Jingfang to his study to speak.

Li Jingfang came to Zhou Fu's study room. After the two of them met, they sat down with the guests and hosts. Someone brought tea to him. Zhou Fu smiled and said, "Is this my uncle here to be a lobbyist for the East China Government?"

Li Jingfang also laughed and said, "Brother Yushan's eyes are indeed like a torch, but Jingfang came here to spread a message for the East China Government, and at the same time, he was also thinking about Brother Yushan. Brother Yushan thought that there is still something to do in the current situation in Zhejiang!"

Zhou Fu smiled bitterly and didn't say anything.

Li Jingfang did not continue to ask questions, but then said: "Now Japan is committed to leasing Taizhou Prefecture and Wenzhou Prefecture; and the British and French powers are unwilling to completely turn against Japan. Although they have also come forward to deal with it, it is probably difficult to stop Japan. The other governors and governors are afraid of Japan's forces and are afraid that they will not dare to give substantial help to Zhejiang. Therefore, the only one who can really help Zhejiang and who has the ability to stop Japan is the East China Government."

Zhou Fu sighed and said, "In front of Boxing, I don't say anything empirical. The East China Government can indeed help Zhejiang resist Japan, but I am afraid that after retreating from the Japanese army, Zhejiang Province will also change its surname."

Li Jingfang nodded and said, "Yes, when I came, the East China Government made it clear that they could help Zhejiang resist Japan, but Zhejiang Province must also surrender to the East China Government."

Zhou Fu was stunned for a moment, but he didn't expect Li Jingfang to say so straightforwardly. After a while, he said: "Even if that's the case, why should I need the help of the East China Government? It's just a fight with the Japanese to die, and be loyal to the country."

Li Jingfang laughed and said, "Who is Brother Yushan loyal to? He has finished it early in the morning. Is Brother Yushan planning to be loyal to Pu Ye or Pu Wei!"

Zhou Fu was speechless, neither Pu Ye nor Pu Wei had any idea of ​​loyalty to him. Firstly, Zhou Fu looked down on these two people; secondly, although Zhou Fu had no ambitions, he had the opportunity to rule the country and make decisions by himself, and he was unwilling to be controlled again.

Li Jingfang said again: "If Brother Yushan surrenders to the Japanese forces and cedes Taizhou Prefecture and Wenzhou Prefecture, he will be cursed by thousands of people. If Brother Yushan does not surrender to the Japanese forces, Brother Yushan thinks that with Zhejiang's troops, can he withstand the Japanese army's military strength?"

Zhou Fu shook his head and said, "I can't stop it."

Li Jingfang said again: "If the East China Government is on the grounds of protecting the country and defending the territory, Brother Yushan asked himself, can he withstand it?"

Zhou Fu smiled bitterly and said, "It can't be stopped either." He thought to himself that if the East China government really led the army into Zhejiang Province on the grounds of defending the country, it would not only not be stopped, but also not stop it. Once it blocked, it would probably be called a traitor. Therefore, no matter what, Zhejiang Province could not be protected. And the idea of ​​separating one side and becoming the mainstay would be impossible to maintain.

Li Jingfang said: "Even so, why should Brother Yushan do it even though he knows it is impossible! Submitting to the East China Government can protect the country and land, second, take into account the reputation of Brother Yushan, third, ensure that Brother Yushan has a good end. Why should Brother Yushan hold on? That's all, Brother Yushan must not mislead himself!"

Zhou Fu was silent for a while and finally nodded. In fact, Zhou Fu understood the truth that Li Jingfang said, but he was just a step away and could not die and rushed to the East China Government. Therefore, with Li Jingfang's advice, Zhou Fu was just taking the ladder to get down the wall.

So Zhou Fu first settled Li Jingfang, and then immediately recruited the governor's yamen and the main officials of the Hangzhou Prefecture, announced that he would submit to the East China Government, and asked the East China Government to send troops to help Zhejiang resist the Japanese army.

This news naturally shocked all officials, but on the other hand, many people could understand it because they could only control Japan's only East China Government, so there is no other way to solve the current danger in Zhejiang except to join the East China Government.

Of course, most people are still unwilling to submit to the East China Government. Although the East China Government has outstanding achievements and high reputation among the people, it is not a good place for the officials of the former Qing court. Because the system rules and methods of the East China Government act almost completely different from those of the Qing court, it is basically difficult for officials of the Qing court to be valued. A senior official like Zhou Fu may be able to work in idle positions, but the middle and lower levels of officials basically have no chance. Moreover, the East China Government would rather train the appointment of middle and lower levels of officials than retain the former Qing court officials.

However, Zhou Fu decided to submit to the East China Government. It was useless for the officials below to oppose it. It was not Zhou Fu's high position and power, so the officials did not dare to resist, but it was useless for the resistance, because the army of the East China Government really wanted to enter Zhejiang Province, who could stop it! Therefore, it is better to think about your own way out first.

Seeing that the subordinate officials did not object, Zhou Fu immediately issued a telegram, announcing that Zhejiang Province had surrendered to the East China Government and asked the East China Government to send troops to enter Zhejiang to resist the Japanese invasion.

Once this telegram was published, it immediately shocked the entire Southeast region. No one expected that Zhou Fu would actually join the East China Government, and Britain, France, the United States and other countries were anxious because they had a lot of interests in Zhejiang. Even if Japan forcibly leased Taizhou Prefecture and Wenzhou Prefecture, it would not have much impact on the interests of Britain, France, and the United States. After all, Japan only occupied two prefectures in Zhejiang. Although Japan was crazy this time, it did not dare to squeeze the interests of various countries easily. The East China Government was different. They really dared to take action against the interests of various countries. What's more, Zhou Fu's submission to the East China Government was to offer the entire Zhejiang Province with both hands, not as simple as two prefectures.

So countries persuaded Zhou Fu to think twice, but not to make a decision rashly, and guaranteed that all countries would continue to put pressure on Japan to prevent Japan from leasing Taizhou Prefecture and Wenzhou Prefecture, and other governors and governors also sent electricity to Zhou Fu, urging Zhou Fu not to easily join the East China Government, otherwise the consequences would be unpredictable. Some people even suggested that Japan would rent Taizhou Prefecture and Wenzhou Prefecture and rent it to them, and it could also preserve most of the land in Zhejiang Province. Why should it join the East China Government!
Chapter completed!